Yet Another Knife Thread: Outdoors/Survival

[DwarvenChef]

Besides a short santuko This is the only other knife I take on backpacking trips. Carrying many knives can be handy but I learned my lesson early in life (after 150 mile mountain hike with a 120lb pack...) Not going to do that crap again

[gratewhitehuntr]

Ok, I went and got weights to display the REAL difference.

If you are really concerned about weight then let em suggest an idea to you.

The weight of water is close to 1oz per fl oz.

if you think that a large knife is going to be drastically lighter than a small axe, you are wrong.
The difference between the lightest and heaviest selections I listed is the equivalent of a pint of water.

I don't about you but I can sweat a pint real easy trying to "cut" when I should be "chopping".

Woodsmans Pal -- 23oz
Cold Steel Khukri 18 inch --- 16oz
Cold Steel Khukri 22inch--- 18.2oz
Gerber Gator II Combo, including 6 inch saw --- 32oz
Same axe minus saw 28oz

Length
Woodsmans pal ---- 17"
both Khukris list heir own length
Gator Axe 15.16"


Price
Woodsmans Pal ---- aprox $55 unshipped
18" Khukri ------ aprox $20 unshipped
22" Khukri ------ aprox $23 unshipped
Gator Combo ----have seen as low as $35 unshipped

I have used the woodsmans Pal and rather like them.
Having more weight at the end really helps it swing hard and the balance is nice.
It is a lot for a machete though and the tip needs to be sharpened before I would use it.

I haven't been real impressed with any Khukris I've seen, at least not if they were being compared to a small axe.

BTW, there is a smaller, though not much lighter version available with a knife in the handle.
It weighs in at 27oz

[gratewhitehuntr]

ok, I went back and re read your original post and it seems that you were knife specific and not gear in general.

opps....

[jimmyseymour]

I would take any multi-tool that caught my fancy, there are some pretty good ones and some pretty crappy ones. You get what you pay for. My gerber has torx fitting for replacing broken cutter heads and stuff like that, so I prefer it.

I carry a Bob Dozier proffesional skinner that is found at http://www.agrussell.com/knives/hand...l_skinner.html
it's pretty reasonably priced for a custom made knife and can be carried on your belt under your belly button. This is surprisingly a very comfortable way to carry such a knife, and easy to get to while still be secure. Its well designed and can handle any chore you can throw at it within reason.

As to a camp knife pick a size you are comfortable with and can use well. I would carry a knife with these deminsions found here: http://www.fernknives.com/camillus/o...337/index.html I am not endorsing this particular knife but am it's design. This one I would strap to the side of my backpack. Again if you are not familar or comfortable handling a knife this big take something about the size of a kabar. Personally I love kabar's. I love the flat pommel for hammering and the carbon steel blade that can be used with flint to start a fire in a pinch. There are a huge amount of kabar knock offs and immitations that are good and bad. Pick what feels comfortable in your hand.

Now even though I would take a big bowie it will not replace a hachet or axe. You have to ask yourself before you go which you will need, because carrying both will get tiresome and you will in most likely ditch one or the other. For small shelter and small branches for camp fires the bowie will be great. For anything bigger than that it quickly becomes to small and hachet or axe is what you should be using. You just need to be realistic about what your intentions are, what murphy's law is going to throw at you, and make your best guess. Or just go with wichever you like more, hachet or bowie. Remember how people will react to a big bowie compared to a hachet.

Well that's my two cents.

[dennisthemenace]

Here ya go: http://www.ragweedforge.com/SwedishKnifeCatalog.html

The #1 or its equivalents is the way to go. Cheap, but it can handle about anything. If you need to cut wood with it, just cut a club first then whack the back of the blade while holding the edge against the branch you want to cut.

With one of these, maybe an Opinel (http://www.ragweedforge.com/Historic...og.html#opinel) and a Swiss Army knife or a Leatherman type multi-tool, you have everything you really need.

[Wildtim]

Here ya go: http://www.ragweedforge.com/SwedishKnifeCatalog.html

The #1 or its equivalents is the way to go. Cheap, but it can handle about anything. If you need to cut wood with it, just cut a club first then whack the back of the blade while holding the edge against the branch you want to cut.

With one of these, maybe an Opinel (http://www.ragweedforge.com/Historic...og.html#opinel) and a Swiss Army knife or a Leatherman type multi-tool, you have everything you really need.

That No. 1 is perfect for me. I want one, just classic utility. I forgot all about Opinels too. great light weight utility folders.

[Dennis]

I have been a backpacker for over 20 years and have never needed a large knife or ax. I tend toward lightweight hiking and cannot imagine carrying that amount of weight. The most useful "knife" I have carried is a Leatherman Micra. It has things on it that a badckpacker needs - small scissors, a small knife, nail file, Phillips/flat screwdrivers and tweezers. If you need to whittle wood if you are making stakes or carving spoons or what have you, a Swiss army type knife will be all you need. If you want something a bit more substantial, I think I would look at neck knives, and Murray Carter makes some of the best.

Dennis

[sensei_kyle]

One thing I learned from last year is go light. That's one reason I'm re-evaluating pretty much everything I carry. The Mora & Opinel knives look like a real bargain.

[Toddo]

Adventure Medical Heatsheets are a much better option than a mylar space blanket. Mylar tears far too easy and is noisy as hell.

[Jonedangerousli]

A hefty bag is much cheaper than a space blanket